Vacation Homes

Set your style free

For a fresh look, split up that matched table and chair vignette

Dining areas, large or small, should have an element of elegance and the room pictured here, though simple in design, demonstrates this.

Photograph by: Arash Moallemi
, National Post

Hi Jeffrey,

My husband and I are downsizing from our family home to a two-bedroom condo. Our new home does not have a formal dining room, but rather a dining area at the opposite end of the living room. We are giving our formal mahogany dining table and chairs to our daughter, as she has room for them and I would hate to see the set sold. That leaves us needing new compact dining furniture. I think I'm ready for a change from our previous formal/traditional set. Thank you, Gwen

Congratulations on your move. I have decoratively assisted many Baby Boomer clients transition to condo living from large homes, so I am very aware of your spatial challenges. And I'm pleased you were able to find a good home for your dining set because it's always disappointing when cherished pieces have to be sold.

I like dining areas, large or small, to have an element of elegance and the room pictured on this page, though simple in design, demonstrates this.

These furnishings are from Zilli Home (zillihome.com) and maintain a timeless elegance that you will want to infuse into your new decor.

This vignette shows the popularity of mixing and matching different styles, of which I'm an ardent fan. Formal dining sets with a matching table, chairs and sideboard have become less favoured, especially with condo dwellers who have space restrictions.

Whether you're adding on to pieces you own, or starting from scratch, I prefer rooms to look as if they've been collected over the fullness of time. Maybe your daughter won't notice if you keep some of the dining chairs!

Round tables are great for entertaining. I especially like the one in the photo because you can dress it up or down.

The sage green Louis XVI-style chairs with button-tufted centres dress up this table, though parsons chairs wouldn't look out of place, either. Just picture these chairs around the same table that's been covered with a floor-length tablecloth - talk about a romantic setting for you and hubby to have dinner or host a dinner party. For a completely different look, add metal-frame chairs with leather upholstery to give the room a more modern feel. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a chair that didn't look suitable with this table.

The two cream chairs on either side of Lady in Black Gown (I'm fantasizing you own a John Singer Sargent painting) are ideal to pull up to the table or into the living area, should entertaining require extra seating. Instead of upholstering them in a solid fabric, choose a pattern that ties in the colours from both the dining and living area. The room will look very "finished" if this pattern is also used on the back of the wood frame chairs. (I recently did this with similar chairs for a client and it was a big hit!)

Just because your new dining area is not in a designated room of its own doesn't mean your furniture has to come flat packed and needing to be assembled. Don't be afraid to mix various looks, styles and eras and if you're not completely sure they work, then shop at a store with experienced design consultants who can help make it a reality. And if you need a few more table and chair pointers, I am going to be discussing this very subject on CityLine on April 19. Tune in.

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